Implement for setting bridle-strap fasteners.



G. F. MORGAN.

IMPLEMENT FOR SETTING BHIDLE STRAP FASTENERS.

APPLICATION FILED mu. I4, 1916- 1 1 99,406. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

INVENTOR GE RGEF MORGAN ATTORNEY GEORGE F. MORGAN, OF LANCASTER, WISCONSIN.

IMPLEMENT FOR SETTING BRIDLE-STRAP FASTENERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed January 14, 1916. Serial No. 72,144.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Grant and State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Implements for Setting Bridle-Strap Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved implement for setting a bridle strap fastener and the principal object of the invention is to provide a tool with which a bridle strap may be connected and secured to the hammer stem, the strap being measured the proper length and held rigid while being secured to the hammer stem.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character described which may be easily operated, one jaw of the tool being provided with a tack holder across which the bridle strap will extend so that by pressing upon the handles of the tool the tack may be forced into the hammer stem and securely hold one end of the strap in place.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this device that it may be adjusted according to the length of strap desired.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a viewin side elevation showing the improved tool in use. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the inner end portion of the strap holder forming part of the tool. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the tack holding cup. Fig. 4 is a view showing the tackholding cup in top plan.

This tool includes the two jaws 10 and 11 which are provided with handles 12 and 13 and are pivotally connected with the standard 1 1 which may consist of a solid block having bifurcated upper and lower ends or it may consist of two side bars. These jaws are pivotally connected with the standard by means of the fasteners 15 and are yieldably held in a normal position with the handles 12 and 13 in spaced relation by means of the spring 16. The jaw 11 carries a foot 17 for engaging the upper face of the hammer stem 18 and the jaw 10 carries an arm 19 which extends beneath the hammer stem and terminates in a finger 20 with which the plunger 21 is connected by means of the screw or other fastener 22. This plunger 21 is provided with a head 23 positioned in the tack holding cup 24 F. MORGAN,

the tack holding cup being normally held in the raised position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by means of the springs 25 coiled about the plunger between the finger 20 and the tack holding cup 2&.

A supporting plate 26 is pivotally con nected with the lower end of the standard 14 by means of the fasteners 27 and carries a metal plate 28 which is provided with a flange 29 for engaging one end of the bridle strap 30. This plate 28 is slotted as shown at 31 so that the clamping bolt 32 may pass through the plate 28 and when tightened, engage the plate to securely hold it in an adjusted position upon the supporting plate or bracket 26. A resilient wire 33 has its inner end secured to the bracket 26 and .has its free end or outer end extending about the tack holding cup 2 1 and terminating in a prong 34: with which the bridle strap 30 will be connected, the bridle strap when engaged by prong 3 1 extending across the tack holding cup at as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and shown in elevation in Fig. 1.

\Vhen in use, the plate 28 will be moved to the proper position upon the bracket 26 and releasably held in the adjusted position by.

tightening the clamp 32. The tape will then be connected with the flange 29 and 1 after being pulled out straight, the prong 341 will be passed through the tape thus holding it at the proper length until attached. After the tape is in place, the plate 26 will be swung downwardly joint 27 so that the tape carrier 33 can be at the hinge passed through the usual opening in the hammer stem with the driving head 20 of the jaw 10 positioned above the hammer stem where it will be out of the way. The resiliency of the wire 33 and the relative size of the opening through which it passes will permit the driving head of the jaw 10 to be then moved downwardly so that it will assume the position shown in Fig. 1 with the cup extending as shown in Fig. 1 with respect to the tape and holder and with the head 17 of the jaw 11 engaging the upper face of the hammer stem. By pressing the handles 12 and 13 together, the tack can be driven into the hammer stem. After the tack has been driven tightly into place, the bridle strap will be released from the flange 29 and after the driving head has been swung to one side and the jaws then swung upwardly with the hinge fastener 27 as a pivot the wire 33 can be drawn out through the opening through which the bridle passes. The leather tab 35 can then be easily connected with the usual bridle wire forming part of the piano mechanism and the operation is completed.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a tool which is very convenient to use and with which a bridle can be very easily and quickly put in place, the bridle being measured while being put in place and thus the proper length of bridle obtained.

hat is claimed is 1. A tool of the strap character described comprising pivotally mounted jaws, one of said jaws being provided with a foot for engagement with the upper face of a hammer stem and the second jaw positioned to extend beneath the hammer stem, a plunger carried by the end portion of the second jaw, a tack holding cup slidably mounted upon said plunger, a spring positioned about said plunger between said tack holding cup and the end of said second jaw, a bracket connected with said jaws, a plate adjustably connected with said bracket and provided with means for engaging one end of a bridle strap, and a resilient element extending from said bracket and having its free end portion extending about said tack holding cup and terminating in a prong for engaging a bridle strap.

2. A tool of the character described comprising pivotally mounted jaws, one of said jaws being adapted to engage the upper face of a hammer stem and the second jaw having its end portion extended to extend beneath the hammer stem, a plunger carried by the end of said last mentioned jaw, a tack holding cup carried by said plunger and yieldably held in a raised position, a bracket connected with said jaws, means to engage one end of a bridle strap adjustably mounted upon said bracket, and resilient means for engaging the opposite end of a bridle strap carried by said bracket and extending in operative relation to said tack holding cup.

3. A tool of the character described vcomprising a standard, jaws pivotally connected with said standard, a bracket suspending from said standard, a bridle strap engaging plate adjustably connected with said bracket, a resilient bridle strap engaging wire connected with said bracket, a foot carried by one of said jaws for engaging the upper face of a hammer stem, an arm extending from the second jaw, a lunger carried by said arm for extending eneath a hammer stem, a tack holding cup slidably mounted upon said plunger, and a spring positioned about said plunger beneath said tack holding cup and the lower end of said arm, the free end portion of said wire extending about the cup and terminating in an engaging prong.

4:. A tool of the character described comprising a standard, jaws pivotally connected with said standard, one of said jaws adapted for engagement with the upper face of a hammer stem, a plunger connected with the second jaw and positioned to extend beneath the hammer stem, a tack holding cup carried by said plunger and yieldably held in a raised position, a bracket connected with said standard, bridle strap engaging means connected with said bracket, and a second bridle strap engaging element connected with said bracket and having its free end portion extending in operative relation to said tack holding cup.

5. A tool of the character described including a pair of jaws, one of said jaws adapted for engagement with one side of a hammer stem and the second jaw provided with a plunger for extending upon the opposite side of the hammer stem, a fastener holding cup slidably mounted upon said plunger and yieldably held in a normal position, and means for measuring a bridle strap and holding the same with one end of the strap in operative relation to said plunger.

6. A tool of the character described comprising jaws having their end portions terminating in position for engagement with opposite sides of a hammer stem, the end portion of one of said jaws being provided with fastener driving means, bridle strap measuring and holding means positioned to hold a bridle at a measured length and hold one end of the bridle in operative relation to the fastener driving means, and means for retaining a fastener upon said driving means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. MORGAN.

WVitnesses:

NORMAN GARTHWAITE, JOHN M. STONE. 

